Apparatus for making aluminum nitrid and other chemical substances



W. HOOPES. APPARATUS FOR MAKING ALUMINUM NITRID AND OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCESI APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9, I919.

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1,398,371, Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

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1,393,371, Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM noorns, or PITTSBURGH,., PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR T0 ALUMINUM COMPANY or AMERIcA, or PITTSBURGH, PEN SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ALUMINUM NITRID AND OTHER cI'II-IMIcAL suBsrANcRs.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Hoorns, a citizen of the United States of America,and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Making Aluminum Nitrid and other Chemical Substances, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to apparatus or means for practising processes involving chemical reactions, and more particularly to those involving reactions between solid and gaseous bodies.

1h practising processes of the general character described, the solid bodies that are to take part in the reaction are usually mixed to form a charge, and the gas is caused to act upon the latter.

In proceeding in this manner I have found that in order successfully to practice processes of this kind it is necessary to realize certain conditions, particularly if the process is to prove a commercial success. One of these conditions is that the bodies both solid and gaseous, which are to take part in the reaction, shall all come into intimate contact with each othemthroughout the entire charge, and to this end it is necessary that the bodies both solid and gaseous be as evenly distributed as practicable throughoutthe latter., Furthermore, where heat is absorbed by the reaction, another condition. is

that the heat be supplied or distributed at the reaction temperature throughout the mass, and that the mass be maintained atthc requisite temperature during the reactlon. In order to realize-these conditions the solid materials forming the charge should be thoroughly intermixed and the charge should be of such a character that fresh gas can per- -meate the entire mass to take the place of that. absorbed, that, any reaction may pass 0 igaseous product of the I and that the heat absorbed by the reaction be supplied at or Specification of Letters Patent. P te t t 11, 1921 Application filed September 1%,1919. Serial No. 324,765. I

above the reaction temperature at all vpoints where the reaction is taking place. One of the objects of my invention is to prov de apparatus or means realizing the conditions above set forth. Other objects of my Invention will be in part obvious and in art pointed out hereinafter.

y invention and its aims and objects will be best understood from the following descr1pt1on taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one illustrative form of apparatus or means embodyin $9 invention, the scope of the invention ing more particularly pointed out in the ap-' pended claims. i

4 In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one illustrative form of apparatus or meansembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a top plan. view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is an elevation of one of the top A electrodes and of the means of suspending the same; i

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section on line 76 H of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in I elevation.

I will now describe one illustrative form vention, in its application'to the production. of a specific substance, more particular-l aluminum nitrid. It is to be understoo however, that my invention is not limited to the production of this substance, but that as to its general features and also as to certain of its more specific features as well, it is equally applicable to the production of other substances, including other nitrids.

In theillustrative form of my invention herein shown, 2 designates the walls of a preferably circular shaft furnace, said walls being. constructed of any suitable material, suchas fire-brick, silica, magnesite, bauxite,' or; the like, capable of resisting high temper- 80 i of apparatus or means embodying my intained at the atures. The bottom Wall 4 of the furnace is provided with an annular space 6 which is covered by a grate 8. A plurality of pipes 10 extend radially through the lateral walls 2 of the furnace beneath the grate 8, their inner ends opening into the annular space 6, and their outer nds being connected with a common supply pipe 12 extending about the lower part of the furnace and itself connected to a larger supply pipe 14 leading to any suitable source of supply of nitrogen or nitrogen-containing gas. Herein six pipes 10 are provided, but the number may vary according to the size of the furnace. Through these pipes 10 the nitrogen or nitrogen-containing gas, to be used in the reaction, is introduced into the furnace.

While I may use any source of heat in accordance with my invention, I. preferably use electrical energy for this purpose, proceeding preferably on the resistance principle of heating, the charge forming a conducting path between suitable electrodes connected to any suitable electricity supply. The heat is thus developed with practical uniformity throughout the cross-section of the charge, a condition required for the maintenance of uniform temperature-While performing the reaction. The use of arcs adjacent the charge for developing the heat, or even of arcs where the charge constitutes one terminal of the arc, has proven unsatisfactory, as the major portion of the heat is developed in the arc with the production of local high temperature at that point instead of uniform temperature throughout the entire charge. The same thing in a lesser degree applies to the development of the heat by means of resistors placed external to the charge. In that. case the resistors must run at a higher temperature than is maintained within the charge, and the portions of the charge adjacent the resistors are heated to higher temperatures than those portions of the charge farther removed from the resistors, with the result that, if the portions of the charge adjacent the source of the heat are at the proper temperature for the reaction, those portions of the charge farther removed from the source of heat are at too low a temperature for the reaction, or conversely, if the portions of the charge far removed from the source of the heat are mainproper temperature for the reaction, then those portions of the charge adjacent the source of heat are overheated with resulting volatilization or fusion of the mass.

To the above end I provide a pluralityof electrodes 16, extending horizontally through the lateral walls 2 of the furnace near the bottom of the latter, but above the grate 8, while above the furnace there are suspended in any suitable manner a plurality of vertically' disposed electrodes 18. All of these "is heated.

electrodes will preferably be of carbon, eight lower electrodes 16 and thirteen upper electrodes 18 being herein provided, but the number of electrodes used will vary according to the size of the furnace used, it being preferable to use as many electrodes as may be conveniently handled in order uniformly to distribute the current through the furnace. The upper electrodes 18 will preferably be disposed in a circle with one in the center, substantially as shown in Fig. 3, but any suitable arrangement may be adopted. These upper electrodes will preferably be suspended separately, so that each may be raised and lowered independently of the others, as exemplified in the case of one electrode in F jg. 3, for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

The lower electrodes 16 are supplied with current through suitable connections 20 located outside the furnace, and the upper electrodes 18 are supplied with current through the connections 22. These connections 20 and 22 are connected to the terminals, not shown, of an electric circuit supplied from any suitable source of electricity. lVhile any suitable current, either direct or alternating, may be used, I preferably use an alternating current supplied by a transformer, not shown, of any suitable construction, the primary circuit of which will preferably be provided with means for regulating thevoltage delivered by the transformer to the furnace.

Upon the grate 8 I provide a layer of any suitable electrically conductive material in which the lower electrodes 16 are embedded within the furnace. For this purpose, I may use granulated coke, the lower portion 21 of the layer being preferably of coarse coke and the upper portion 23 of said layer of relatively fine coke.

Upon this layer of coke is supported, within what may conveniently be called the reaction chamber of the furnace, the mixture or charge of solid materials that are to take part in the reaction. For the production of aluminum nitrid, I prefer to use calcined bauxite, mixed with a suitable proportion of a reducing agent to which will preferably be added a material which will serve to bind the particles of the charge when it Instead of bauxite any aluminous material could be used, such for example, as the aluminous residue from alunite after the extraction of the potash therefrom, or kaolin or any clay of high alumina content. The amount of silica contained in clays, however, makes them commercially undesirable for use in the process, although it is possible to use them. A suitable binding material is tar or pitch. If pitch be used, it is convenient to use it in a pulverized form and to mix it with the bauxite and reducing agent at the time those two materials permit agents,

are mixed, so that the whole goes into the furnace as a dry mixture. Any suitable reducing agent may be used,'but I preferably use a carbonaceous material, such as coke or low-ash bituminous coal.

In order to facilitate the penetration of the nitrogen gas through themixture, and

the necessary contact between the reit is preferable to reduce the ingredients of the charge to a relatively finely comminuted state. I have found that if they are ground to a fineness which will enable about 80% of the whole charge to pass through a IOO-mesh sieve, this will suffice. After grinding, the ingredients are thoroughly mixed in any suitable proportions. I have found that a satisfactory mixture will consist of the following proportions: 100 pounds of bauxite; 50 pounds of' any good low-ash bituminous coal; and 10 pounds of powdered pitch, but I do not limit myself to these exact proportions.

I prefer to use pitch instead of tar, as tar makes the mixture heavier and therefore less permeable to gases. I also preferably make up the charge as a loose mixture, without compressing it, .thus minimizing the 1 density and gaining in permeability to gases.

A mixture of finely ground bauxite,

The degree of porosity of a charge, and of inverse ratio to its weight per unit volumei coa or coke, and powdered pitch, when loosely poured, weighs only from 40 to 50 pounds per cubic foot, and I have found that a loosely poured dry mixture of these ingredi ents has a much greater permeability to gases than any other form of charge known to me.

Itis preferable to keep the charge out ofcontact with the furnace walls during the reaction, in order, mong other things, tonnsulate the charge from the walls of the furmice and thus reduce the loss of heat from the charge by radiation through the fur nace walls. Furthermore, when the charge is electrically non-conductive when cold, but becomes electrically conductive'when heated, as in the case of the charge herein usedfor the roduction' of aluminum nitrid, for examp e, it is necessary to preheat the charge in order to render it conductive.

To the above ends I preferably interpose between the charge and the walls of the furnace a layer of any suitable material capa l ble of withstanding the relatively high temperature to which the interior of the furnace is exposed during the reaction, and for this purpose I preferably select a substance that will be relatively conductive when co which will therefore act as a resistor when an electric current is passed through the same, and thus heat the charge. Certain carbonaceous substances give good results when used for this purpose. I havefound that such as cardboard for example,

granulated coke, for example, is well suited for this purpose, and I therefore preferably interpose between the charge 24: and the walls of the furnace a layer 26 of this material. (See Fig. 2.) In carrying out my invention, however, I may use any suitable substance or means for this purpose.

Where the char e must be preheated in the furnace to ren er it self-sustaining, this surrounding layer 26 acts as a supporting means or envelop for the charge to support it until it becomes self-sustaining,

It will-be apparent that where the charge is made up of materials that render it electrically conductive when cold or at normal temperatures, the surrounding envelop 26 needv not consist of electrically conductive material. Any suitable material or other means that can withstand the high temperature during the reaction, and which is preferably heat-insulating, may be used.

As alread stated, the charge rests upon the layer 0 granulated coke in which the lower electrodes are embedded and with which the charge is therefore in electrical contact.

To facilitate the introduction of the charge 24: and its surrounding envelop 26 without vide suitable separating means, herein exemplified as a cylindrical form 28 having a diameter somewhat less than the interior diameter of the furnace. This form is set up vertically, substantially nace, thus leaving an annular space between it and the furnace walls. This annular space will .vary somewhat in thickness according to the diameter of the furnace; in a furnace having an interior diameter of seven feet the cylindrical form may be approximately five feet in diameter, thus leaving an annular space of approximately one foot in thickness between it and the outer walls of the furnace.

The interior of the form is now filled in with the charge, and the annular space with the granulated coke or other material that is to constitute the supporting envelop. This form may be made of any suitable material, in which case it will be consumed during the operation if left in; or it may be withdrawn as the charge and envelop are filled in upon opposite sides thereof, as when the envelop and charge are their becoming intermixed, I preferably proits consequent permeability to gases, is in.

the electric current.

magnesite, bauxite,

confined to the space within the form, the envelop material running to the top of said coke layer.

This envelop 26 may be allowed to remain in place durin the reaction, but I have found it advisable, where a self-sustaining charge is used, to withdraw said envelop after the charge has been heated sufficiently to render it electrically conductive and selfsustaining, and preferably before the reaction begins.

The envelop being directly in contact with the brick walls in the furnace, causes them to become considerably hotter from the inside than otherwise would be the case; and at the temperatures necessary for the reaction the walls of the furnace, which as already stated are usually of fire-brick, silica,

or the like, are thus damaged, both by fusion of portions of the interior wall and by chemical attack by the carbon on the oxids of which these refractories are composed. Furthermore, at the temperature it is necessary to maintain within the furnace during the reaction, the interiors of the Walls reach a temperature at which they themselves become conductors of The result of this is that a portion of the current leaks wastefully through the interior surface of the walls from the top coke layer to the bottom, which both wastes energy and contributes to the damage of the walls. These three sources of damage to the walls cause them to have a comparatively short life, so that they must be frequently renewed, and this renewal is a material source of expense. While, therefore, it is entirely practicable to secure satisfactory results, as far as the reaction is concerned, without removing the envelop, for the reasons above given, it is preferable to remove the envelop before the reaction begins.

Any suitable means or arrangement may be adopted for removing the envelop. As one very satisfactory means for that purpose have herein rovided the walls of the furnace with a p urality of small openings 32 at about the level of the bottom of the charge.

ese openings are normally closed by firebrick, and after the charge has been eufliciently heatedto render it electrically conductive and self-sustaining, these fire-brick closures can be removed one at a time, and the envelop allowed to run out, in which it may be assisted by poking, if necessary. The openings are then closed again with firebrick to exclude the entrance of air. After the envelop has been removed the charge, now self-sustaining, remains isolated or detached, that-is it stands up in the reaction chamber. entirely out of contact with the fur nace walls, and separated therefrom space previously occupied by the envelop. This space being filled by the gases in the by the furnace, the charge is electrically and therinally isolated from the walls by the gaseous layer thus formed around it.

The current, entering the coke layer resting on top of the charge through the to electrodes, can therefore only reach the bottom coke layer by passing through the charge itself, and can no longer pass downward through the-walls, because there is no electrical contact with the walls at the top.

\Vhen the carbonaceous envelop is allowed to remain in place during the reaction, it is possible to operate the furnace with an open top, as the charge is then protected on all sides by a carbonaceous shield which prevents air from filtering into it and oxidizing it. If, however, the carbonaceous envelop is withdrawn from around the charge, it is necessary to close the furnace at the top. Suitable means is provided in accordance with the present invention for that purpose, said means being herein exemplified by a removable cover 34. This cover will preferably be of cast iron or steel, provided with double walls and intermediate chambers for the circulation of water to cool the cover.

Any suitable provision may be made for producing a circulation of water through the cover from any suitable water supply, many such means being well-known and therefore not requiring further description herein. The cover will rest with its flanges '36 upon the upper edge of the furnace walls,

and between said flangesthe inner wall of the cover will preferably be provided with a l1n1ng38 of any suitable refractory mate- The cover will nace, three of said openings being shown in Fig. 2, with the central upper electrode in place in its opening.

The illustrative furnace herein shown is charged from the top, which requires that the cover be removed This may be effected by any suitable hoisting means, and to this end the cover maybe provided with eye-bolts 42 adapted to be engaged by the hoisting tackle.

he cover may-thus be readily raised to enable the furnace to be charged, or for any other purpose, and then relowered into space to close the furnace when the latter has been charged. 1

The openings through which the upper electrodes pass, will preferably be only large enough in cross-section to permit the exit of the gases being blown into the furnace at bottom, together with those generated during the reaction. By this'means the air is excluded from entering the furnace at the top and oxidizing the charge.

In order to facilitate and expedite the reaction it is sometimes desirable to core a gas passage or gas passages through the for that purpose.

charge in the furnace, so that the nitrogen can more readily permeate the whole charge.

, This may be effected in anyv suitable manner tubes 44, which should be suitably spaced apart, about 12 inches, for example. These tubes or rods may be made of paper, wood, or any other suitable material andof any shape in cross-section. Or said tubes may be 'made of thin sheet steel or other suitable metal or electrically conductive material. In this case their upper ends will be embedded in the upper layer of conductive material 30, and their lower ends in the lower layer of conductive material 23,, so that they may serve not only to core passages through the charge, but also to act as resistors for a purpose hereinafter more fully'set forth.

The furnace walls will'preferably be provided with a plurality of sight-tube holes 46, placed at different heights and in different angular positions around the furnace. In the furnace shown, there are four vertical series of these sight-tube holes, placed 90 apart around the furnace.

A tube extending into the. interior of the charge may be inserted in these sight-tube holes, as shown at 48, by means of which the temperature of the interior may be read at any time by either the insertion of a thermocouple or the use of an optical pyrometer, the choice of the means for reading the tem perature being governed by the ranges of temperature to be read. The temperature of practically all parts of the charge may thus be ascertained at any time.

After the furnace'has been charged as above described, current is thrown on from the transformer. As above stated, the

i charge of bauxite, coal, and pitch, used in connect the top the present illustrative instance does not conduct when it is cold, but the top layer ofcoke 30, the lower layer of coke 21, 23, and the annular envelop of coke 26 connecting these upper and lower layers do conduct, so that the circuit is completed between the upper and lower electrodes by-the continuous path of coke thus formed. The first effect of turning on the current is therefore to develop heat in the coke forming the top and bottom coke layers 30 and 21, 23 and the annular coke envelop 26 surrounding the, charge and, in case metal tubes are used, in the walls of these metal tubes which also and bottom coke layers. The first effect of the application of the current is therefore to supply heat to the furnace from the walls of the tubes and from the coke envelop, and as the temperature of these parts can beraised to any desired ex-,

- tent, the preliminary heating of. the charge ing the charge.

temperatures der, and the distillation of the coalused in the charge.

By the time the temperature of thecharge has thus been raised to about 700 (3., most of the volatile components of the pitch and coal will have been driven off and the fixed carbon remaining from the distillation binds the particlesof the charge to each other so that the whole mass of the charge is selfsustaining and needs no further support either from the outside coke-layer or from the tubes in order to retain its form. About this time, therefore, the coke envelop will be withdrawn, as above described, through the openings provided for that purpose, and

these reclosed. Approximately at this point the charge'itself begins to conduct the current, so that during the subsequent, operation the charge itself serves to establish the circuit between the top and bottom coke layers.

tubes are used, these also contribute to the heating'of' the charge from within the latter.

If coring tubes of wood or paper have been used, during the heating throughout the 'mass these will begin to distil and decompose before the baking of the charge is completed, but it is found that the charcoal resulting from the use of such tubes holds the position it occupied in the original tube and furnishes a suflicient barrier to prevent the charge from falling into and stopping up the core-holes. After the baking of the charge to a self-sustaining mass is completed, the temperature of the charge continues gradually to rise until the reactlon temperatures is. reached. Before this temperature *is reached the nitrogen will be turned on, so that it may penetrate and pass up through the charge." In so doing it bef comes heated in, passing through the coke-. layers 21, 2b,, and this contributes to heat- The reaction begins and proceeds very slowly at a temperature of about 1400 0., but its speed rapidly increases as the temperature rises above that v point'and it proceeds with a rapidity sufficient to make the process commercial' at between 1600 and 1700- C.

'is arrested by the factthat The rapidity of the reaction increases very rapidly with a rise in the temperature above 1650 C; The conductivity of the charge also increases very greatly with the rising temperature, and at the reaction temperatures actually used, the envelop having been withdrawn, all of the current in the furnace passes through the charge and develops the heat where it is required to supply that which is absorbed by the reaction, which latter is highly endothermic.-

After the charge is brought to the reac tion temperature, it is necessary to continue to supply it with energy until enough energy in excess of that lost by convection, conduction, and ra'diation, has been supplied to it, to "convert the major portion of the alumina in the charge into nitrid. After this amount of energy has been supplied, any further input of energy ceases to be usefuland will result in a further rise of temperature in the charge which, if continued, will destroy the nitrid already formed. During the progress of the reaction, which in a seven-foot furnace may take from about five to seven hours, the rise of temperature the energy supplied is absorbed by the reaction and disappears as heat. In practice, it isfound that while the reaction is going on the charge is automatically retained at a temperature in the neighborhood of 1700 C., unless energy is supplied to the charge faster than it can be absorbed by the reaction, which should not be done for good operation. When the temperature rises to the neighborhood of 1900 the supply of current will be discontinued, as this rise in temperature is indicative of the completion of the reaction and because also above this temperature very rapid volatilization of alumina takes place and decomposition of the nitrid formed begins.

If charcoal-forming coring tubes have been used, the charcoal may or may not remain in place, but if it does, it will do no harm because the charcoal is sufficiently permeable to the gas not to interfere with the entrance nor with the penetration of the charge by the nitrogen;

After the current is turned oil the supply of nitrogen will preferably be continued, as the reaction will not stop when the current is turned off, if there is any unconverted alumina still remaining in the charge, but

will continue until the temperature of the charge has fallen to a pointin the. neighborhood of 1400 C. Continued introduction of the nitrogen after the current is turned off also serves to prevent the diffusion of air through the charge, which diffusion might have the effect of oxidizing some of the aluminum nitrid already formed. It also helps to cool the charge.

While pure nitrogen could be used in the reaction, this would be expensive and the use of pure nitrogen is not necessary. An atmosphere consisting of approximately 95 to 98% nitrogen with some carbon dioxid, some carbon monoxid, and a small quantity of free oxygen can be cheaply made and supplied. This gas is found to be entirely suitable. Ordinary producer gas can also be used to good advantage, but its high carbon dioxid and carban monoxid content make it less desirable than an atmosphere richer in nitrogen. Any carbon dioxid present in the gas is reduced to carbon monoxid by the carbon of the coke in the bottom of the furnace and by the carbon in the charge, but as this conversion is an endothermic reaction, it takes place at the expense of electrical ener and for this reason it is desirable that t e carbon dioxid content of the gas used shall be as low as practicable.

ny oxygen in the gas turns to carbon dioxid with the carbon at the bottom of the furnace and afterward is reduced to carbon monoxid at the expense of electrical energy. lVhile the presence of carbon monoxid to a reasonable amount does not interfere seriously with the reaction, yet when this carbon monoxid content of the gas rises to approximately 60% or above, it does begin to interfere Inaterally with the reaction. Inasmuch as the reaction itself is productive of large quantities of carbon monoxid, the proportion of that gas to the nitrogen content of the atmosphere used, rises to a deleterious point sooner than when gas having a very high nitrogen content or a low carbon monoxid content is used. For this reason a much greater volume of producer gas is required by the furnace than would be required if pure or nearly pure nitrogen were used.

In starting a furnace of the character described, particularly if it be a large one, certain precautions are found to be desirable in practice. Carbon or coke has a much higher electrical resistance when cold than when hot; consequently, when thecurrent is first applied, if any portion of the envelop happens to be of less resistance than the balance thereof, more current passes through that portion than through the portions of' higher resistance, and heating proceeds more rapidly at that point than at the other points. As the temperature in these zones of less resistance rises, the resistance tends to diminish still more, and the quantity of current admitted, therefore, becomes still greater, so that the effect is cumulative. The tendency is therefore for the envelop to heat up at one point faster than at other points, and this .,,eflect is also cumulative. For this reason it is desirable that the initial heating shall proceed slow-1y, so that no point in the furnace shall be supplied with energy more rapidly than it can be conduct- 45 For a furnace having areaction chamber of ed to the neighboring colder portions to equalize temperatures. The uniform heating of the envelop can be facilitated by various means. In practice it has been foundthat this maybe accomplished, for example, by dividing the coke layer at .the top of the furnace into sections, electrically insulated from each other and each one supplied with current by a separate electrode. This sectionalizing can be readily effected by any suitable means, as by dividing the top coke layer into sectors by boards or partitions. The entire annular envelop may also be divided in this way, so as to confine the current to the sector inwhich it starts, but in practice this has been found to be unnecessary. The amount of current entering any sector can be controlled in any one of several ways as will be clear to those skilled in the art, for example by a variable reactance or resistance in the circuit of each electrode, but preferably by varying the pressure of the electrodes on the coke which it enters.

The electrical resistance of a mass of loose coke is very greatly reduced by increasing the contact pressure on it, and in practice it has been found desirable, as already stated, to suspend the electrodes separately, with means to raise or lower them independently, so as to be able to increase or decrease the intimacy of contact between the individual electrodes and the coke.

Thus if it is found in starting that one electrode is carrying more current than the others, this current can be decreased by slightly raising the electrode, and conversely, any electrode which is carrying too little current can be lowered to raise the amount of current it carries. In practice the electrodes will preferably be thus adjusted separately until all conduct about the same amount of current, after which the supply of current may be regulated as a whole to keep it at the right amount. The voltage and amperage required for the reaction will vary.

a diameter of seven feet, for example, from 40 to 120 volts, and 10,000 to 20,000 amperes will berequired, according to the height of the charge.

After the nitrification of the charge is complete, it is permitted to remain in the furnace while it cools, to prevent its oxidation by the oxygen of the air. After the temperature of the char e has fallen to a point below 800 to 900 C this oxidation of the nitrid in thecharge will no longer take place, and the finished charge can then be removed from the furnace in any suitable manner and ,by any suitable means.

From what has been said with regard to the liability of the charge oxidizing at the ;reaction tem erature should oxygen be admitted, it wi 1 be apparent t-hatin order to be successful the reaction, must be conducted in a reducing atmosphere. This is assured in my process by the presence of the heated carbon in the coke layers 21, 23, which combines with any oxygen that may enter the furnace to form carbon dioxid, which is afterward reduced to carbon monoxid, and also to the presence of large quantities of the latter gas resulting from the reaction.

The'charge may be put into the furnace in dry, powdered form, as above described, or

it may be previously mixed with the tar or pitch at a temperature high enough to render the binding material thoroughly fluid, and put into the furnace in a plastic or semiplastic condition. It will also be apparent that the charge could be heated, in a suitable form for example, to render it self-sustaining before placing it in the furnace, and the coring, if used, may also be effected before the charge is placed in the furnace.

From the above description those skilled in the art will readily recognize-the advanta es possessed by my invention. I

hus, uniform heating of the charge and mate and substantially uniform intermixture" of the ingredients of the charge throughout the entire mass of the latter, and the high degree of porosity of the charge throughout,

whereby intimate and so far as practicable uniform contact is assured between the solid and gaseous bodies used in the reaction,

throughout the entire mass of the charge and fresh gas can always permeate any and all parts of the latter to take theplace of that absorbed by the reaction. The heat necessary for the reaction will thus be developed throughout the entire charge wherever it is required and in suitable quantity continuously to supply that absorbed by the reaction.

So far as practicable, uniform heating of the charge throughout is thus assured and overheatlng thereof during the reaction is precluded provided that the rate of input of electrical energy is kept within certain. limits, readily determined by experiment;

this rate being substantially equal to the sum of the heat absorbed by the reaction, plus the unavoidable heat losses, the temperature be ing thus maintained within the desired limits.

Where the charge is not substantially uniformly heated, the electric current owing to the greater conductivity of the hotter portions of the charge, is liableto concentrate at said hotter portions. The temperature of the hotter portions of the charge is thus liable to rise to the fusion point of the mixture, the resulting fused masses cutting off the supply of gas from adjacent parts of the charge, thus materially curtailing if not wholly preventing the reaction at those parts. The uniform heating of the charge in accordance with my invention precludes this and insures that the reaction will take place practically uniformly in all parts of the charge, thus insuring a very high production of the product which it is sought to obtain.

The charge being isolated or detached during the reaction, by the withdrawal of the envelop, whereby the charge is separated by a space from the furnace walls, causes all of the current, so far as practicable, to pass through the charge, and prevents the damage that might result to the walls of the furnace if the envelop were left in, as previously explained.

Other advantages secured by my inven tion in addition to those herein specifically pointed out will appear to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that, while the invention is herein described as embodied in the details illustrated, the invention is not to be considered as circumscribed by or limited to these details or any of them, but that said details may be variously modified within the true scope of the invention, which is definitely set forth by the claims. It Will be understood also that it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be used to advantage separately in various combinations and sub-combinations, as defined in the subjoined claims.

The process herein disclosed is claimed in my application of even date, Serial No. 324,766, and generic claims to both process and apparatus are found in my applications 324.762 and 324,764.

Claims.

11 An apparatus of the class described comprising a container having electrodes at either end thereof adapted to receive a charge between them and a removable conductive lining for said chamber adapted to be withdrawn without removal of the charge.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a container having electrodes at either end thereof adapted to receive a charge between them, a lining of lumps of carbon for the sides of the chamber anu discharge means for withdrawing such lining laterally from the chamber.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a container having electrodes at either end thereof adapted to receive a charge between them, a conductive lining for the sides of the chamber of discrete reprovide a sistant particles and means for withdrawing said lining from the chamber while leaving undisturbed a furnace charge between said electrodes.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a container having electrodes at either end thereof adapted to receive a charge between them, means at the sides of the chamber receiving current from said electrodes to heat a charge in the chamber, said means arranged to be withdrawn to gas receiving space about the charge.

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber contaming a charge; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrically conductive means below said charge: electrically conductive means above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said electrically conductive means; removable electrically conductive means supporting said charge laterally and electrically connecting said first-named two electrically conductive means; and electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge being electrically non-conducth'e until heated and comprising a material adapted to bind the particles thereof and render said charge selfsustaining when heated; a cover for said reaction chamber; and removable electrically conductive means laterally to support and heat said charge in said reaction chamber.

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; a cover for sid reaction chamber; and removable electrically conductive means to heat the charge in said reaction chamber.

8. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; at ayer of electrically conductive material below said charge; a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers and charge forming a conducting path for the electric current between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a cover for said reaction chamber; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two layers; and electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to heat the tive, and will then pass throu b said charge and generate throughout the atter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductive.

9. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated and comprising a material adapted to bind the particles thereof and render said charge selfsustaining when heated; a cover for said reaction chamber; a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge; a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers and charge forming a conducting path for the electric current between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounded and supporting said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two layers; and electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them, and thereby to heat the charge and render it electrically conductive and self-sustaining, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductive and self-sustaining.

10. In apparatus of the class described, in

I combination, a reaction chamber containing a charge; electrically conductive means below said charge; electricallyconductive, means above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected with said charge by said electrically conductive means; electrically conductive means extend- 6 0 charge ing through said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two electrically conductive means; and electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current. V

11. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber containing a charge; electrically conductive means below said charge; electrically conductive means above said charge; a plurality of-electrodes electrically connected with I said by said electrically conductive means; coring means of electrically conductive material extending through said charge and electrically connecting said first-namedv two electrically conductive means; and electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current.

'12. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber containing a charge; a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge; a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers; a

plurality of coring tubes of electrically conductive material extending through said charge and electrically connecting said firstnamed two layers; and electrical connections connecting said electrodes "with a suitable'.

source of electric current.

13. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chambensaid charge being electrically non-conductive until heated;

means to conduct the gas that is to take part in'the reaction into said reaction chamber,

so that it may permeate the charge; a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge; a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers and charge forming a conducting path for the electric current between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a cover for said reaction chamber; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said charge and electrically connecting said first named two layers; and electrical connections connecting aidelectrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby'electric current will first pass through said, three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to heat the charge and render it eleetrically conductive, andwill then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductive.

14, In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction "chamber, said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated and comprising a material adapted to bind the particles thereof and render said charge self-sustaining when heated; means to conduct the gas that'is to take part in the reacv charge and electrically heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounded and supporting said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two layers; and electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them, and thereby to heat the charge and render it electrically conductive and self-sustaining, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductive and self-sustaining.

15. Inapparatus of the class described,

in combination, a reaction chamber containing a charge; means to conduct the gas that is to take part in the reaction into said re-' action chamber, so that it may permeate the charge; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrically conductive means below said charge; electrically conductive means above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said electrically conductive means; removable electrically conductive means supporting said charge laterally and electrically connecting said first-named two electrically conductive means; and electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current. v I

16. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge comprising the solid materials to take part in the reaction, relatively finely divided and thoroughly intermixed, said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; means to conduct the gas that is to take part in the reaction into said reaction chamber to cause it to permeate the charge; a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers and charge forming a conducting path for the electric current,between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said connecting said firstnamed two layers; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrical connections connecting it electrically conductive, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughlayer of electrically conductive material may be Withdrawn when the charge has. become electrically conductive.

In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a cored charge in said reaction chamber, said charge comprising the solid materials to take part in the reaction, relatively finely thoroughly intermixed, said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; means to conduct the gas that is to take part chamber to permeate the charge; a layer of conductive material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers and charge forming a conducting path for the electric charge is heated; cally conductive material surroundin charge and electrically connecting sai firstnamed two layers; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to heat the charge and render it electrically conductive, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductive.

18. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge comprising the solidmaterials to take part in the reaction and a binding material that will bind the particles of th gether when it is heated and render said charge self-sustaining, all of said materials being relatively finely divided and thoroughly intermixed, said charge being elec trically non-'conductive'until heated; means to conduct the gasthat is to take part in the reaction into said reaction chamber to cause it to permeate the charge; a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge and a: layer of electrically conductive material above said electrodes ele'ctrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers and charge forming a conductiv named two layers; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will divided and charge; a plurality of.

e mixture tomaterial may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductive and selfsustaining. I

' 19. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reaction chamber; a-charge in said r'eaction'chamber, said charge comprising the solid materials to take part in the reaction and a binding material that will bind the particles of the mixture together when it is heated and render said charge self-sustaining, all of said materials being relatively-finely divided and thoroughly intermixed, said charge being electrically nonconductiveuntil heated; coring means to core the charge; means to conduct the gas thatis to, take part in the reaction into said reaction chamber to cause it to permeate the charge; a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; .a plurality of electrodes electrically connected'to said charge by said layers, said layers and charge forming a conducting path for the electric current between said electrodes when the charge is heated; 'a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said chargeand electrically con-' necting said first-named two layers; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrical connections connecting said electrodes with. a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive mate- I rial to heat them and thereby to heat the -charge and'thus core it and render it "selfsustaining and electrically conductive, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby 7 said lateraL layer of electrically conductive i when it is heated material may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductive and selfsustaining;

20-. In apparatus of the class described, in

.-combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge comprising the solid materials to. take. part in the'reactibn and a binding material that will bindthejparticles of the mixture together relatively finely divided and thoroughly inconductive until heated; electrically conduc- 'tive coring means to corethe charge; means to conduct the gasthat is to takepart in the reaction, into said reaction chamberto cause the heat necessary necting said electrodes and. render said charge self-sustaining,- all of said materials beingbecome'electrically conductive. 1 1. 22. In apparatus for 'maliingaluminuniflae it to permeate the charge; a layerof electrically conductive material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers "and charge form ing a conducting path for the electric current 7 between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two layers; a cover for said reaction chaniber; electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable sourceof electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to heat the charge and thus core it, and render it self-sustaining and electrically conductive, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the c rge has become electrically 0019- 90 ductive and self-sustaining.

21. In apparatus for making aluminum nitrid, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge comprising in suitable proportions,

' an aluminous material, a carbonaceous material, and a binding material by which the particles of said charge are bound together and it is rendered self-sustaining, all of the materials of said charge being relatively finely divided and thoroughly intermixed, and said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; means to conduct a nitrogen-containing gas into said reaction chamber to cause it to permeate the charge; 106

a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge and -a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers 110 and charge forming a conducting path for the electric current between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two layers; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrical connections conwith a suitable source ,of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to-heat the charge and render it electrically conductive, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter the heat necessa for 126 the reaction; and means whereby sai lateral layer 'of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the charge has.

nitrid, in combination, a reaction chamber; acharge in said reaction chamber, said charge comprising in suitable proportions, an aluminous material, a carbonaceous material and a binding material that will bind the particles of said charge together when atively' finely divided and thoroughly intermixed, and said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; means to conduct a nitrogen-containing gas into said repermeate the charge; a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically for the electric current between said is heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two layers; a cover for said reaction chamber; connections connecting said electrodes with the charge and render it electrically conductive and self-sustaining, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of gether and it is rendered self-sustaining, all of the materials of said charge being relatively finely divided and thoroughly intermixed. and said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; means to conduct a nitrogen-containing gas into said reaction chamber to cause it to permeate the charge; a layer of electrically conduc tive material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers two la em; a cover for said reaction chamber; e ectrlcal connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to heat the charge and render it electrically conductive, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductiv In apparatus for making aluminum nitrid. in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge comprising, suitable proportions, an aluminous material, a carbonaceous material and a binding material that will bind the particles of said charge together when it is heated and render it self-sustaining, all of the materials of said charge being relatively finely divided and thoroughly intermixed, and said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; coring means to core the charge when it is heated; means to conduct a nitrogen-containing gas into said reaction chamber charge: material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge: a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge said layers, said path for the electric current between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two layers; acover for said reaction chamber; electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to heat the charge, and thus core it and render it electrically conductive and self-sustaining, and will then pass through said charge and the latter the heat necsaid lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when the charge has become electrically conductive and selfsustaining.

25. In apparatus for making aluminum n1- trid, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge insaid reaction chamber, said charge comprising bauxite, bituminous coal, and powdered pitch in the proportions of about 100 pounds of bauxite, about 50 pounds of bituminous coal, and about 10 pounds of powdered pitch, all of the materials of said charge being relatively finely divided and thoroughly intermixed, said charge being electrically non-conductive until heated; means to conduct a nitrogen-containing gas into said reaction chamber to cause it to permeate said charge; a layer of electrically conductive material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said char e by said layers, said layers and charge orming a conducting path for the electric current, between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said charge and electrically connecting said first-named two layers"; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to heat the charge and render it selfsustaining and electrically conductive, and will then pass through said charge and generate throughout the latterthe heat neces. sary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when said charge has been rendered self-sustaining and electrically conductive.

26 In apparatus for making aluminum nitrld, in combination, a reaction chamber; a charge in said reaction chamber, said charge comprising bauxite, bituminous coal, and powdered pitch in the proportions of about 100 pounds of bauxite, about 50 pounds of bituminous coal, and about 10 pounds of powdered pitch, all of the materials of said charge being relatively finely layer of electrically conductive material below said charge and a layer of electrically conductive material above said charge; a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to said charge by said layers, said layers and charge forming a conducting path for the electric current between said electrodes when the charge is heated; a lateral layer of electrically conductive material surrounding said charge and electrically connecting said I first-named two layers; a cover for said reaction chamber; electrical connections connecting said electrodes with a suitable source of electric current, whereby electric current will first pass through said three layers of electrically conductive material to heat them and thereby to heat the charge and thus core it and render it self-sustaining and electrically conductive, and will then pass through said charge and generate through out the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and means whereby said lateral layer 7 of electrically conductive material may be withdrawn when said charge has been rendered self-sustaining and electrically conductive.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

wILLIAM HOOPES. 

